Veterans Affairs committee  Do you want to take that?

Veterans Affairs committee  It does need to start earlier, and we're working on that together. There's not a problem with jurisdiction, but up until the introduction of the program, DND had taken some efforts on its own to help members. With this program now, there's another tool in the toolbox. We are now working with DND to make sure it's a seamless activity between the two departments.

Veterans Affairs committee  We haven't actually heard that there's a stigma. We were concerned that there could be a worry that if too many individuals actually were starting to look at job placement, that could be a potential recruitment issue. But we haven't found that actually. In fact, DND personnel have been very supportive, both rank and file and senior members, in trying to help us figure out ways to get the program more accessible.

Veterans Affairs committee  If I could clarify, that refers to the program evaluation being conducted on the charter. One of the commitments the department made was that there would be a formal program evaluation undertaken. Those three phases are really timelines within that evaluation framework. With that, perhaps Darragh might indicate what the targets are.

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you very much. You're quite correct that there has been slower-than-anticipated take-up of the job placement program, which is a key part of the charter. I should mention that there are two ways job placement actually takes place within the context of the charter. If someone is going through rehabilitation, as part of the vocational rehabilitation component, job placement efforts are made on behalf of the graduates of the program.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes, it was, but I have extra copies.

Veterans Affairs committee  I'll be delivering the comments this morning, Mr. Chair, but both Mr. Mogan and I will be engaged in the follow-up discussion.

Veterans Affairs committee  I might clarify that the deck was provided for your information. I'm not going to go through it in detail. I will have opening remarks and cover some of the content there. Mr. Chair and committee members, it's a pleasure to appear before you today with my colleague, Darragh Mogan, who is director general of policy and research, in order to provide an update on the new Veterans Charter.